This review may contain spoilers
Strong Cast and Beautiful Ending Song, But Weak Subplots
Typically, I avoid dramas with a rating lower than 8 on kisskh, but this one caught my eye. The leads, Li ZiTing (Arif Rahman) and Meng ZhiYi, had impressed me in Empress of China and Blossom respectively, so I gave it a chance. And while the drama had some redeeming qualities, particularly the cast and the ending theme song by Li ZiTing, the story itself had some serious issues that made it hard to fully enjoy.
The standout element was undoubtedly the chemistry between the lead couple. Li ZiTing’s performance continues to shine, and Meng ZhiYi held her own, making their interactions feel heartfelt and compelling. The ending theme song, sung by Li ZiTing, was another highlight that captured the emotional depth of the drama.
However, as engaging as the plot seemed initially, it was ultimately marred by numerous contrived and downright nonsensical subplots. Let me break down a few that really threw me off:
The Old Emperor’s Succession Plan: The old emperor, aware that Prince Jin (Xue Rong) would face significant opposition to his ascension, chooses an unnecessarily convoluted way to announce him as his successor. Why not just name him Crown Prince and give him an official endorsement? That would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble—and given us fewer episodes to slog through.
The Young Emperor’s Foolishness: The young emperor goes on a trip with his lover, Yu Zhan, and—against the advice of his commander—dismisses his guards, putting both himself and Yu Zhan in unnecessary danger. This move is so absurdly reckless that it made me question his judgment. It’s a classic case of drama for drama’s sake.
The Emperor’s 'Heroic' Stunt: In a ridiculous scene, the bandit holding Yu Zhan hostage demands that the emperor jump into a well for him to ensure his escape. And, of course, the emperor complies, risking his life to prove his devotion. This could have been resolved with a simple negotiation, but instead, we get an over-the-top, melodramatic moment that feels more forced than heartfelt.
Jiang Shao's Blind Rage: Jiang Shao falls for a conspiracy to frame his future father-in-law for his mother's murder—without even attempting to verify the facts. If you’re going to try and assassinate someone, especially your lover’s father, shouldn’t you investigate the situation first? His impulsive decision felt more like a plot device than a believable character choice.
Fu Wan-er’s Reckless Assumptions: Similarly, Fu Wan-er jumps to the conclusion that Yu Zhan murdered her parents, without considering the complexities of the situation or understanding why Yu Zhan feels regret. And don’t even get me started on Shou-An and Li Huai Jin—blinded by jealousy and rage, they act out in ways that make no sense, simply to create drama. Sure, they’re young, but this level of impulsivity is just unrealistic.
Yu Zhan’s Implausible Disappearance: The drama’s attempt to create a bitter-sweet ending fails when Yu Zhan, supposedly poisoned and on the verge of death, manages to drug the young emperor and disappear. If she were truly dying from poison, she’d be struggling for her life, not plotting some ridiculous escape. Wouldn’t someone near death want to spend their last moments with their loved ones?
These are just a few examples of the countless moments that made me question the characters’ intelligence. Every drama has its share of exaggerated plot points, but this one took it to a level that felt too far removed from any sense of realism.
It’s clear that the drama was adapted from a novel, but whether or not I’d read the source material isn’t the issue. The drama itself needs to stand on its own, presenting a story that is both engaging and believable. And on that front, it fell short.
The overall tone and style of the drama, especially in the early episodes, gave me a strong Hong Kong drama vibe from the 1970s-80s. While nostalgic for some, the outdated feel didn’t quite match the modern sensibilities I’m used to in recent dramas.
Lastly, I found myself wondering whether Li ZiTing and Meng ZhiYi actually read the script before accepting their roles. A good cast can’t save a flawed story if the script itself doesn’t live up to expectations. Producers need to focus on more than just hiring star power—they need to ensure that the story is strong enough to justify their actors’ talents.
In the end, while there were a few shining moments, the drama didn’t do enough to make up for its flaws.
The standout element was undoubtedly the chemistry between the lead couple. Li ZiTing’s performance continues to shine, and Meng ZhiYi held her own, making their interactions feel heartfelt and compelling. The ending theme song, sung by Li ZiTing, was another highlight that captured the emotional depth of the drama.
However, as engaging as the plot seemed initially, it was ultimately marred by numerous contrived and downright nonsensical subplots. Let me break down a few that really threw me off:
The Old Emperor’s Succession Plan: The old emperor, aware that Prince Jin (Xue Rong) would face significant opposition to his ascension, chooses an unnecessarily convoluted way to announce him as his successor. Why not just name him Crown Prince and give him an official endorsement? That would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble—and given us fewer episodes to slog through.
The Young Emperor’s Foolishness: The young emperor goes on a trip with his lover, Yu Zhan, and—against the advice of his commander—dismisses his guards, putting both himself and Yu Zhan in unnecessary danger. This move is so absurdly reckless that it made me question his judgment. It’s a classic case of drama for drama’s sake.
The Emperor’s 'Heroic' Stunt: In a ridiculous scene, the bandit holding Yu Zhan hostage demands that the emperor jump into a well for him to ensure his escape. And, of course, the emperor complies, risking his life to prove his devotion. This could have been resolved with a simple negotiation, but instead, we get an over-the-top, melodramatic moment that feels more forced than heartfelt.
Jiang Shao's Blind Rage: Jiang Shao falls for a conspiracy to frame his future father-in-law for his mother's murder—without even attempting to verify the facts. If you’re going to try and assassinate someone, especially your lover’s father, shouldn’t you investigate the situation first? His impulsive decision felt more like a plot device than a believable character choice.
Fu Wan-er’s Reckless Assumptions: Similarly, Fu Wan-er jumps to the conclusion that Yu Zhan murdered her parents, without considering the complexities of the situation or understanding why Yu Zhan feels regret. And don’t even get me started on Shou-An and Li Huai Jin—blinded by jealousy and rage, they act out in ways that make no sense, simply to create drama. Sure, they’re young, but this level of impulsivity is just unrealistic.
Yu Zhan’s Implausible Disappearance: The drama’s attempt to create a bitter-sweet ending fails when Yu Zhan, supposedly poisoned and on the verge of death, manages to drug the young emperor and disappear. If she were truly dying from poison, she’d be struggling for her life, not plotting some ridiculous escape. Wouldn’t someone near death want to spend their last moments with their loved ones?
These are just a few examples of the countless moments that made me question the characters’ intelligence. Every drama has its share of exaggerated plot points, but this one took it to a level that felt too far removed from any sense of realism.
It’s clear that the drama was adapted from a novel, but whether or not I’d read the source material isn’t the issue. The drama itself needs to stand on its own, presenting a story that is both engaging and believable. And on that front, it fell short.
The overall tone and style of the drama, especially in the early episodes, gave me a strong Hong Kong drama vibe from the 1970s-80s. While nostalgic for some, the outdated feel didn’t quite match the modern sensibilities I’m used to in recent dramas.
Lastly, I found myself wondering whether Li ZiTing and Meng ZhiYi actually read the script before accepting their roles. A good cast can’t save a flawed story if the script itself doesn’t live up to expectations. Producers need to focus on more than just hiring star power—they need to ensure that the story is strong enough to justify their actors’ talents.
In the end, while there were a few shining moments, the drama didn’t do enough to make up for its flaws.
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